Teacher’s Wages Are Still Too Low
Story by Elena Sofia Piña- Loucks, Illustration by Mallika Sunder.
In Arizona, teachers get paid an average of $47,606 per year, the 50th in the nation. This is a dangerously low salary since $39,000 is considered “very low” for a four person household according to the Arizona Federal Government. Teachers need to be paid a fair wage, since they are responsible for educating and inspiring future generations.
Teachers go through a lot of education to become qualified, and are always having to attend conferences and workshops to keep up to date with curriculums. Even though it varies by state, teachers are typically required to get a bachelor's degree and some type of specialized training, which sometimes includes getting a master’s degree. This takes roughly 4-8 years to complete after highschool. After they complete their education, teachers then have to go through the process of getting certified by the state. In Arizona, to be certified by the state, a candidate would need to hold a bachelor's degree, complete a teacher preparatory program, earn a master's degree if your speciality requires one, pass the required state exam, and then apply to be a teacher. With college being the most expensive it has ever been, student loan debt has increased drastically. How are teachers expected to pay off their student loan debts with such little money?
Teachers are invaluable to their communities, often dedicating time outside of school to help students with their classwork as well as be a supportive role model in each of their lives. On average, teachers stay an extra 90 minutes at school to tutor, prepare the classroom, and help students. In addition to this, teachers spend an average of 95 minutes grading assignments and tests, and other job related work. They also spend hours emailing students and parents, and attending their students' extracurriculars. Despite all this, teachers are constantly fighting for fair wages that will compensate them for the emotional energy they are expected to put into their jobs. Why would we underpay our childrens’ educators and mentors? Teachers are responsible for all parts of a child’s education from preschool to college. They give them a possibility for a brighter future, and inspire their students to do extraordinary things, and a right to proper financial compensation for their hard work.
